Shadow woke up in cold sweat, which was arguably not good for a Fire Phoenix in general. 

    What if Canyon is right? What if I am a Shadow Phoenix? But he knew in his heart that it was not true. His parents had told him that he was a Fire Phoenix. So he was one. A dark fired one.

    Shadow now thought back to his dream. Somehow, the attacks on the Rising Sun, and his dream all seem to be connected - especially to Canyon's recent dream and vision. This weapon was now already unleashed, and now that even more danger lurked everywhere, and he now had the instincts to protect everyone that he liked. He would never allow Ice Talons to come even close to his friends...even Canyon. Even though he still just met her, he just had to protect his friends. That's what his parents had done for him. He would tell his friends that the monstrous weapon is nearing, and so that they could attack. He needed to destroy the weapon so it wouldn't endanger all of the phoenixes.

    He had nightmares like Canyon that would reveal true secrets, and he intended to use his dreams against Ice Talons. For the phoenixes. For his friends. And to honor his parent's sacrifice.

                                                                              ~~~

    Knock knock knock.

    That was the first sound that Canyon heard when she woke up - a quiet, patient pounding on the wooden door at the front of her hollow that she recently installed.

    Knock knock knock!

    This one sounded more vigilant, and Canyon totally freaked out. She lay still on her nest in her hollow, and waited quietly for the knocking to recede. Apparently, it didn't.

    Knock scrape knock knock scrape.

    Whoever was out there really wanted her to come out, and didn't have any good morning manners. Scratching on the door - what are they thinking?

    KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

    Canyon jumped slightly, and crept to the opposite side of her hollow. She grabbed a poker stick next to her bed, and slowly advanced towards the door. When the next set of knocking came, Canyon flung open her door, flared her fires, and was about to run the phoenix through when she saw who it was.

    "Oh, it's you," She was relieved that it wasn't actually any stranger coming to torture her, or anything of the sort. Suddenly, anger boiled up in her gradually. "What're you doing here, three shadows before sun rise? Can't you see that I'm tired? I was resting, and you just couldn't wait! ANSWER ME!" Canyon roared - perhaps she reacted a bit too much.

    Shadow flinched backwards as she yelled, and retreated a few wing beats, eyes wide with confused fear. Canyon saw herself in those eyes - all ruffled up, with feathers and fire bunched up around her shoulders like she was about to pounce. Her eyes glowed an angry red. She looked menacing.

    "I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry, Canyon!" He turned around. "I was about to tell you about my dream!" And he flew away quickly towards the Ring of Fire, mostly scared. Canyon was puzzled. What exactly did he wanted to say to Canyon that was important enough to get her out of bed three shadows before sun rise? Oh well. Canyon got up, and went down to the forest closest to the Ring of Fire.

    On her way there, she bumped into a wizened looking Fire Phoenix. He seemed to be a Barn Owl. He had an eye slashed out, and a scar running from his eyebrows down to his neck. His port wing was slightly mangled, and his starboard wing glowed an eerie blue. Canyon screamed quietly. She wondered why she never saw this Fire Phoenix before, and why he so suddenly appeared before her.

    "Quiet!" He hissed at her, and surprisingly, Canyon obeyed. "Now tell me what you were doing out here all alone."

    Canyon wanted to so badly lie at this sudden bird, but couldn't. It was as if his commands deprived her of all her wanted actions. "To hunt. And to ask Shadow what he wants from me." Canyon suddenly felt as if she was being encased in warm, cool air. Blood rose to her feathery cheeks, and she looked away slightly. She then looked into his eyes, and suddenly felt the urge to tell him everything. His gaze locked with hers, and she literally had to scream in her mind for her beak to shut up. If she told this phoenix anything, then she'd be betraying the trust that she held within her friends. But King Falcon Claws? No. Canyon hasn't seen him for a couple of days, so he must be handling the newcomers.

    "Tell me your name, las." He said, peering intently into her eyes, giving pressure on her.

    "C-C-...Canyon."

    "Good. Now, Canyon. You may address me as Sire Stygius."

    "Yes, Sir Stygius."

    "Good," His gaze fell back, and Canyon felt that blanket of warm air lift, almost as if releasing her tongue. There was something strange about his gaze, and realization dawned on her.

    "You can...hypnotize birds!...?" She asked, unsure.

    "Yes. Why?"

    "Oh, nothing." Canyon became excited. If they had a hypnotist on their side, then they would be even more powerful than ever! But still...could she trust him?

    Canyon flew away with her thoughts, and Stygius suddenly asked. "What are you going to do next?"

    "To speak with a friend of mine who may hold an important clue. To then speak with King Falcon Claws. The war is coming, and we must defend ourselves, and attack back! We must uphold thousands of years of tradition here at the Rising Sun." Canyon boldly said. She didn't even know where the words came from. They just spilled down her beak. She heard Stygius suck in his breath, and she looked back. He nodded approvingly, and slunk back into the shadows, his fire still blazing, but fading away into the darkness.

    Canyon shook her head slightly, and a slight flash appeared in her vision. The Ring of Fire was in view. Canyon glanced at the top, and thought that she saw the large eye of a dragon. The dragon was red-orange, so it couldn't possibly be Ice Talons. No, but this eye seemed kinder - more forgiving, and warm. The iris was blue, and an image reflected in it. The Earth. This greatly reminded her of her recent dream for some reason, but she didn't know why. There was no vision of a dragon eye. But still...it reminded her of something. Was that what Shadow was going to tell her about - from his dream? The dream of an eye? The eye disappeared, and scrawled in dark red calligraphy writing that replaced the red dragon eye were words.

    Canyon.

    We await you.